Another Screenwriter is Making Moves via Networking on Stage 32!

“I’ve written a play. Can you direct it?”

AN OFFER!

It was 2013. Two friends of mine recommended to playwright, Robin Pond, that he approach me to direct his play, ‘The Retirement Plan’ , which had been selected to appear at The Toronto Fringe Festival.

I had directed plays before, but all of them had been from scripts I had written. However, I was intrigued, and asked Robin to send me his script. I read ‘The Retirement Plan’ , a dark comedy that dealt with a retiring couple being offered a plan, giving them everything they dreamed of, but it would come with a deadly price. I thought the play had potential, and accepted the offer.

BE READY FOR THE CURVEBALLS!

I managed to assemble a cast of five actors, and we were going to have a reading at my home before starting rehearsals. Just before everyone arrived, I received a call from one of the leads, informing me she had to drop out of the play. My wife, Ray, who had never acted before, offered to read for the role, but only for that night. We did our reading, everything went well, but what was said next took the play in another direction….

“I really liked Ray’s reading”, said Robin. So did the rest of us. I asked Ray if she wanted to be…